Ga. attempts again to execute suicidal inmate

ATLANTA (AP) -- Georgia authorities are trying for the third time in a week to put to death a convicted killer who attempted suicide with a razor blade hours before his initial execution date.

Brandon Joseph Rhode is set to die at 7 p.m. Monday.

The 31-year-old was convicted in 2000 of killing a father and two children during a burglary in their central Georgia home.

Rhode slashed his throat and arms hours before his Tuesday execution date, requiring hospitalization. The execution was then pushed back to Friday night amid ongoing appeals, but the state court postponed it again until Monday evening.

Rhode's attorneys say the execution should be delayed until judges can evaluate whether he's competent to be executed or understands why he's being punished.